UP elections: Poll alliances will come after EC verdict on SP leadership, symbol

By Anuradha Mukherjee

The family bickering in therulingSamajwadi Party (SP)has put a spannerin the plans to form a coalition with the Congress partyandRashtriyaLok DalinIndia'sUttar Pradesh(UP)for thestateassembly polls.Thosein the know, however, say itall depends on theElection Commission's verdict on whether it's advantageAkhileshYadav, current chief minister of UP, or the wily trioof his father,Mulayam Singh Yadav, uncleShivpalYadav and party leader Amar Singh.

"The internal fight in SP needs to be sorted outfirstbefore talk about the two parties coming together can beformalised. Everybody in SP and Congress can see the truth--AkhileshYadav is the winning candidate-- except forhis fatherMulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh (SP leader) andAkhilesh'suncle,ShivpalYadav," said aCongress politician, who did not want to be named.

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Hoardings with photographs ofAkhilesh'swife, Dimple Yadav, and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's sister, Priyanka GandhiVadra, have comeupin some parts of the state, stoking hopes of the coalition.

Mulayam Singh Yadavfounded SP and was itspresidentbefore his authority was challenged and virtually upended by his son,AkhileshYadav, the current chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP)in abitterfamilyrivalry that is threatening to split the party in the middle.

Akhileshhasclaimed majority supportamongSPlegislators and has staked claim to the partychief's position and election symbol, the bicycle, failing which he is expected to float his own party.

"AjitSingh'sRashtriyaLok Dalis also with us – so we are assured of about 20 per cent of the votesfromthe ruralJatcommunity that formshisvoter base," theCongresspolitician added.Singh is an influential politician in western UP that is often referred to as theJatbeltdue to the dominant presence of the largely agrarian community.

Discussions about a secular joint front to containtheBharatiyaJanata Party's ambitions of forming a government in the state have been on for a while at the "highest levels in SP and Congress"with reports of a joint campaign being launched byRahul Gandhi,Priyanka GandhiVadra, along withAkhileshandDimple, doing the rounds for a couple of months.

The group led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, however, isperceivedto be more inclined to the BJP and averse to an open arrangement with the Congress.

"Right now our main focus is on maintaining a united front as far as the party isconcerned," saida Samajwadi Party (SP) functionary considered close toMulayam Singh Yadav, refusing to comment on any truck with the Congress.

Both groups are now waiting for the EC's decision on the party's election symbol.

"Akhileshmay not get the bicycle symbol as it is contested. He may not even get the 'motorcycle' symbol as it is alreadyallottedto a party from south India.But this will not be a setback forhim," saidthe Congress politician.

Mulayam Singh Yadav andAkhileshYadavhadboth declared their versions of the party's list of candidatesfor the 403-seat UP assembly. Both groups have taken the fight to India's Election Commission that will give a ruling on the party symbol and leadershipsoon.

The Congress party's political fortune had been flagging of late and ithas been hopeful of a coalition with SPthatis in power inUP,India's most populousstate,thatisconsidered key to dominating the nationalParliament.

Although a regional election,UP is crucial even for national players like the BJP and Congressas the number of constituenciesany party rules inthe state,home to 204million, has a bearing on the number of seatsallottedto it at least in the Upper House of Indian Parliament or theRajyaSabha.

TheBJPnotched up 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha, or Lower House seats, in the Indian national elections held in 2014 – giving it anundeniable edge in the upcoming polls.

TheBahujanSamajParty (BSP) led by former chief ministerMayawatialso remains a crucial factor. Before the emergence of the BJP in the 2014 elections, the BSP wasconsidered the only option to SP in Uttar Pradesh.

"If the coalition comes through – we can containMayawatito 60-70 seats," hoped the Congress man.

(WION)